Marion teens reflect on lessons from Zimmerman trial

Sunday

Jul 14, 2013 at 5:08 PM

In Ocala there were no reports of protests in wake of the ruling. Instead, many of the area's leaders used the case as life lessons.

By Joe CallahanStaff writer

It seemed like any other Sunday at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church as the black congregation swayed in the sanctuary to upbeat spiritual hymns.It was the 14th anniversary of when the Rev. Stanley M. Jacobs Sr. was hired as pastor of the historic black church on Southwest Broadway Street.While the older parishioners heard Jacobs’ last sermon before the pastor went on vacation, there was a deep discussion about race and social tolerance just beginning on the bottom floor.The Rev. Fred Washington — the youth pastor — on Sunday was helping teenagers come to grips with the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the armed neighborhood watch volunteer who killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin after a struggle.A six-woman jury on Saturday night acquitted Zimmerman, who some have argued racially-profiled Martin, 17, following him through a Sanford neighborhood in the minutes before the Feb. 26, 2012 shooting.His defense team argued that Zimmerman didn’t follow Martin because he was black. Instead, Zimmerman was only looking after his neighborhood, which had been the target of many burglaries.The defense said Martin punched Zimmerman and slammed his head against the sidewalk. Zimmerman’s defense team says he grabbed his holstered handgun and shot Martin in the chest because he was in fear for his life.On Sunday throughout the country, most news channels featured experts addressing race in America, debating racial profiling and equal justice.In Ocala there were no reports of protests in the wake of the ruling. Instead, many of the area’s black leaders used the case to teach life lessons.Sunday morning’s group of 14 teenagers revealed their thoughts on the case. Many said it is up to them to change the perceptions and attitudes people may have toward young black people.Noah Davis, 16, said it’s hard for the black community to demand respect if black people are yelling “N-word” slurs at each other.Noah said it is hard for anyone to say that Zimmerman specifically targeted Martin to kill him, when everyday young black people are shooting each other regularly, he said.“How can we (ask for respect) when we are doing it amongst ourselves?” he said.Washington tossed several bags of candy his way and continued the discussion, stating respect is earned.“When we don’t work together, it is tearing us apart,” he agreed.Washington continued the discussion, moving the conversation to obeying their parents. He asked how many of them had disobeyed their parents. Washington said their parents have good reasons why they should not disobey.“When you are not where you are supposed to be, (bad) things can happen,” said Washington, who called Noah’s father, Gary Davis III, to the front of the room.The men told the teenagers to respect their parents, who are trying to keep them out of trouble.Though the Zimmerman case has racial overtones, Washington noted that as many white people stood beside black people Saturday night to protest the acquittal, presenting a unified voice.While other teenagers — like Jaitai Williams, 19, and Phyllis Rawls, 16 — chimed in the deeper lessons of Martin’s death, Washington explained about how every generation there’s a black person who has been killed — or what he called a sacrifice — to move along the civil rights movement.In the 1950s, Emmett Till, 14, was murdered by white men for flirting with a white cashier. On the other hand, Washington noted, many white people were killed fighting for black civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s.Washington said Martin’s death will open up many more discussions that can help move civil rights further along.Noah noted that sometimes “it is not the duration of life, it’s your devotion in life” that will make the biggest impact. In the end, the teenagers agreed that Martin’s name will forever be associated with another chapter of civil rights, a sad time that helped discussions move one step higher.Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.